Bill Text: HI HB2697 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Relating To Education.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 25-2)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-03-16 - The hearing on this measure has been cancelled until further notice. [HB2697 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-HB2697-Amended.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2697
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that according to the National Conference of State Legislatures' No Time to Lose report, the United States' public schools are falling dangerously behind the rest of the world when looking at a number of international comparisons, such as the Program of International Student Assessment.  This renowned study and others like it find that if the United States, as a nation, continues on this path, the United States will struggle to compete in the global economy, both individually as citizens and collectively as a nation.  Although Hawaii's National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores have risen continuously, the department of education still has much to do to be considered amongst the highest performing public-school systems in the United States.  NAEP does not test all relevant skills needed to succeed; however, it is one of the best direct comparisons amongst states to compare the effectiveness of public school systems in preparing their students to be internationally competitive.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish a no time to lose commission to examine how the State's public schools can be internationally competitive, and appropriate funds to establish the commission.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§302A-     No time to lose commission; established.  There is established a no time to lose commission to examine how the State's public schools can be internationally competitive by examining common elements found in high performing education systems.  The commission shall examine how the State can accomplish various educational goals that include, but are not limited to the following:

     (1)  Ensuring that every three- and four-year-old has access to quality early-learning education;

     (2)  Ensuring that the State's educational curricula are internationally benchmarked;

     (3)  Guaranteeing that each high school has a career and technical education curriculum that includes computer science studies; and

     (4)  Continuing to allocate funds based on a student's needs.

     (b)  Based upon effective operation practices of high performing public school systems, the commission shall consider the following:

     (1)  Individual teacher preparation time within their regular scheduled hours to allow teachers to adequately prepare for instruction the following day;

     (2)  Collaborative teacher preparation time within their regular scheduled hours to allow opportunities for similar-grade teachers to facilitate conversation regarding effective pedagogy and the creation of high quality lesson plans;

     (3)  Time for teachers within their regular scheduled hours to work with students who have not mastered any lessons;

     (4)  Higher compensation given to all teachers to produce competitive pay that drastically affects high quality teacher recruitment and retention;

     (5)  Principals and vice principals conducting non-punitive classroom observations; provided that the intent of the observations is to offer tools to increase professional growth and further develop effective teaching.

     (c)  The commission shall be exempt from section 26-34 and shall include but not be limited to the following members:

     (1)  A member of the house of representatives, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

     (2)  A member of the senate, to be selected by the president of the senate;

     (3)  The superintendent, or the superintendent's designee;

     (4)  A representative of the Hawaii Executive Conference, to be selected by its executive director;

     (5)  The chairperson of the early learning board, or the chairperson's designee;

     (6)  The chairperson of the state public charter school commission, or the chairperson's designee;

     (7)  The dean of the University of Hawaii at Manoa college of education, or the dean's designee;

     (8)  The president of the Hawaii State Parent Teacher Student Association, or the president's designee;

     (9)  A representative of the Hawaii Community Foundation, to be selected by its chief executive officer and president;

    (10)  A representative of the Hawaii Institute for Public Affairs, to be selected by its president and chief executive officer;

    (11)  A representative from bargaining unit (5), the Hawaii State Teachers Association;

    (12)  A representative from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, who shall be invited to be a member of the commission by the president of the senate; and

    (13)  Other members as the commission deems necessary.

The governor, president of the senate, and speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint a chairperson of the commission.

     (d)  The commission shall be exempt from part I of chapter 92; provided that the department shall make available to the public the minutes of all meetings of the commission on the department's website.

     (e)  No member of the commission shall be made subject to the financial disclosure requirements of sections 84-13 and 84-17 solely because of that member's participation as a member of the commission.

     (f)  The department shall be responsible for the administrative responsibilities of the commission, including but not limited to the posting of public notices, preparing agendas and minutes, organizing meetings, and reporting on the outcome and recommendations of the commission.

     (g)  The commission shall submit a report of its findings to the legislature, the chairperson of the board, and all complex area superintendents no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2021; provided that beginning with the regular session of 2022, and each regular session thereafter, the commission shall report any additional findings and progress toward the state public school system becoming internationally competitive.

     (h)  Upon the request of the board, the commission shall create a master plan of its findings and how to implement the master plan or parts of it, which shall be recommended to the board."

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the no time to lose commission established pursuant to this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

 

 

Report Title:

No Time To Lose Commission; Established; Best Practices; Department of Education; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes a no time to lose commission to examine how the State's public schools can be internationally competitive.  Appropriates funds.  Takes effect on 7/1/2050.  (HD1)

 

 

 

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